What ever happened to people that read good books?
I know very few. It’s sad, everyone is obsessing over Twilight and Fictional boys and here I am reading GOOD books like Of Mice and Men, Huck Finn, Call of the Wild, Night and that sort. What ever happened to literacy among teens? It’s gone down the drain with texting, badly written books and attitudes. Any one know what’s wrong with Society?
Dont get me wrong about texting. I text all the time, but I use proper grammar instead of the ‘lyk, omgz!!’ and ‘u no wen we shuld hag out?’
I suppose I should re-word something I said ealier, but good books, I mean books that promote intelligence and an understanding of the real world and history. Books that have good morals stamped in it and that people don’t go crazy about.
Bri-ana= this isn’t a spam question, if you haven’t noticed, I actually asked a question. Go read the twilight ‘questions’ they are opinion polls. People on there aren’t looking for answers, just someone that agrees with them.
Panda- You just keep getting ruder and ruder, don’t you?
Seriously. I agree… Those are all great, by the way. I am 13.
The good ones, not twilight…
Texting? Don’t get me started… Me too, with what you said. Look at what my friend just sent me:
Hey wanto go 2 strangers @ te harkns 2nite? @5?
Oh, I know! I mean, I love those books though. But, half of the time when teens read it’s about teens with some sort of problem like their boyfriend. I certainly think teenagers are being ruined with texting . and other things like that…
I AGREE!
all these obsessed fans over twilight is SO BORING and its getting old
the book is coming out way in august – cant they read something else until then?
=D
I’m 18 and read all these classics but I do agree that too many teenagers are becoming fascinated with series like Twilight
A Prayer for Owen Meany,
Catch 22,
Catcher in the Rye,
Atonement,
Crime and Punishment,
Animal Farm,
A Separate Piece,
Great Expectations,
Scarlet Pimpernel,
Scarlet Letter,
Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
Frankenstein,
Grapes of Wrath,
One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,
Tess of the D’ubervilles,
Wuthering Heights,
Pride and Prejudice,
Things Fall Apart,
The Picture of Dorian Grey,
Importance of Being Earnest,
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,
Lord of the Flies,
The Great Gatsby,
Madame Bovary,
The Da Vinci Code,
Invisible Man,
The Kite Runner,
As I Lay Dying,
Of Mice and Men,
To Kill a Mockingbird,
The Hobbit,
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban,
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix,
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
1984,
Brave New World,
Medea,
Oedipus Rex,
Romeo and Juliet,
Wives of Windsor,
Othello,
Hamlet,
Macbeth,
King Lear,
Tartuffe,
The Miracle Worker,
The Crucible,
Cry, the Beloved Country,
A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,
Taming of the Shrew,
The Rivals,
Notes From the Underground,
Turn of the Screw,
A Doll’s House,
Death of a Salesman,
The Glass Menagerie,
Fahrenheit 451,
The American Dream,
Zoo Story,
Slaughter-House Five,
Rosecrantz Guildenstern Are Dead
okay I’m a major fan of twilight but I also have read some other good books like Of Mice and Men and other classic books even though I do like them I still love Twilight it’s one of my favorite books of all time. Some people have different opinions on books different people are going to like different books.
We don’t have the time to read anymore, thanks to work and other (very) demanding hobbies… ^_~
No, really… I haven’t been able to read anything in a very long time. Thank god I’m not obsessing over Harlequin books *rolls eyes*
(PS; txting iz fun :p – sorry, just joking. I’ve a bad sense of humor… you’d think though, that people would use that dictionary which is standard in mobile phones?)
It’s not quite fair to say those are the ONLY good books. Taste is subjective; everyone likes something different.
Having said that, many teens don’t read at all, never mind just reading crap. I think this is a great shame. I prefer books by far to movies or television. I am a writer, so this is likely why, but it doesn’t matter; anyone can read. I would almost rather young people read utter crap than have them not read at all (and I don’t include celebrity magazines, texting or books for schoolwork as reading).
This is a pointless question.
I loved Twilight. But that doesn’t mean I don’t read other good books as well. Pride and Prejudice is up there on my list with Harry Potter and A Great And Terrible Beauty.
Not everyone obssess over it, but for the sake of those who do, stop posting questions like this. I don’t think theres anything wrong with those girls who are obsessing over Twilight and Fictional boys.
I personally would rather have a million girls reading Twilight and dreaming about Edward than doing, let’s say, less productive things with their time. Like drugs and what not.
Also, I notice that you complain about Twilight spam alot. Well, seeing as you’re posting yet another question about the books, you’re contributing to the spam.
Good Job.
I am a gramma and I am surprised and gratified to see anyone reading anything anymore. I applaud your efforts to expand your mind by choosing works that have time honored values. But pleez do not become a book snob who looks down on people because they are reading Stephanie Plum instead of Jane Eyre. People who choose to read, regardless of the genre, have more things in common than not, and if it takes Twilight to introduce a generation of readers to the most pleasurable hobby I can imagine then I have to support it. I live in Washington and I constantly have to laugh at how many more people outside of our state know where Forks is than do people in it!!!! I wonder if Stephanie Meyer has a list of books she enjoyed on her website? I am going to go look!!!
Have you even read Twilight before? A large majority of the teenager population (including me) consider that to be a very good book series.
And it’s not like people who have read that book all of a sudden don’t have a ‘good taste in books.’ For example, I’m one of the ‘Twilighters,’ and nearly all high school students read all of the books that you have just posted, and more which are also considered ‘good books,’ such as ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower.’
Also, along with the texting, a LOT of people do use proper launguage and grammar when texting (like myself), which is another reason of why all of the phone companys are now making full keyboard phones.
This question pretty much seems like you’re trying to act all like Oh, look at me, I’m educated and amazing at life, I read all of these books that nobody else reads anymore because they’re too busy fangirling over a book that is soon to be made into a major motion picture comming out in December that has knocked Harry Potter off of the number one spot the first week that the latest books came out!
Yeah, no. Sorry, but you pretty much insulted me and a lot of other people, and I’m sure that I’m not alone here.
its sad that people are obsessing over books? how is that sad? just because people dont have the same taste as you , there books suck? yes the books you listed are great books but so are books like the Twilight Saga, Harry Potter, Narnia, and every other book series. perhaps you should give them a try before the negativity, there is no such thing as a bad book. open your mind.
I’d only be guessing, of course, but I think it has to do with several things (and it’s not just teens/young adults who don’t like to read some of the classics):
1. our society is used to instant gratification (i.e., TV movies basic technology), which books – especially classics – don’t give,
2. classics are generally worded differently than we word things today, which makes them a bit difficult, and
3. people are turned off by books that fall into the required reading category – they immediately think, Boring.
I know a friend of mine doesn’t have the patience to read and is easily bored. Reading, especially anything that might fall into the literature category, is strictly avoided. ***Sigh***
Don’t despair; there are still plenty of people who love to read and read meaningful books! However, I love to see that so many teens are reading. Reading popular, modern books is a good place for them to start. It’s more worrying to find a lot of people who hate to read ANY book!
***Addition: I do agree with Goldfish and others who say the message in a book is very important. The reason I’m glad to see young people reading is because I’m ever hopeful. Perhaps they’ll find they love reading so much that they will expand their horizons with each book they read, and begin wanting to read ever more tomes that teach them and make them think. I’m not sure if I’m making this clear, but reading and finding you enjoy it is step number one. Some people refuse to take even that step.
At least they are reading *something*. Most teenagers don’t read; the fact that Stephenie Meyer has motivated so many to read a book is a good thing, in my mind. I agree that it’s sad so many people don’t read anymore. It reminds me of Fahrenheit 451, lol.
I hate Twilight. I adore New Moon. I like Eclipse. And yes, I’m obsessing over Breaking Dawn. But that’s more out of the fact that suspense drives me nuts… I can’t stand it. Having to wait for things is a death sentence for me. Before Harry Potter 7 came out, I spent hours looking up spoilers and making up theories (and incidentally enough, I called almost the entire book. Most of my predictions actually happened. It was cool, lol.) I’m just the sort of person that likes coming up with theories and finding out spoilers because I HATE waiting. I’m the kind of person who reads the last chapter of a book first. I have to talk to other people about books I’m waiting for to vent. That’s just how I am. Sorry
.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve read Of Mice and Men. I’ve read Huck Finn. I’ve read Call of the Wild. I’ve read lots of Dickens novels and lots of Twain novels. I read Jane Austin. I read Faulker. I read lots and lots and lots and lots of books… I’m a total bookworm. When I’m not eating, sleeping, spending time with friends, or wasting time on Yahoo, I’m reading a book… and I read a lot more than Twilight.
I definitely don’t think Stephenie Meyer is the best author ever. I don’t think Twilight is good at all– I HATE it. And I HATE Edward Cullen. I don’t think her books are the best books in the world. I will admit that I’m guilty of obsessing over a fictional boy, though. Jacob Black… 3.
Also, everyone has a different taste in books. What may be good to you isn’t necessarily good to everyone else.
Like one of your other contributors, I think it is cool that kids are even reading! With the level of crime perpetrated by the youth of today, surely we should applaud the fact that any of them READ – even if what they are reading might not be classed as ‘classic’. Who knows – Twilight today, War Peace tomorrow?!
Alright, so I’m not going to tell you that everybody has a different meaning when it comes to good books and bad books, but I will tell you something, that GOOD books are books that make you THINK! That’s what can be defined as a good book.
Now, everybody uses the excuse that at least everyone is reading. Well, that’s great and all, but they need to read something that allows them to think and not drool. We can say, At least today’s kids aren’t as lazy as the other generation. At least they are exercising. Which isn’t true, I want to point out. But if they began exercising in ways that were dangerous to their health? What would we say then?
I admit it, I read all three books and I will read Breaking Dawn, but it doesn’t mean I like the books themselves. It requires very little from me to actually get through the books except to turn the pages. I’ll also admit that I’m not so into classics–I’ve read awesome classics like Midsummer Night’s Dream and other books by Shakespeare and I even went to see and enjoyed the plays–but I’ve read a lot of other books as well.
As far as text-talk goes. What is the reason for that? That’s like a bunch of lazy people who get on here and post questions, but don’t even have the decency to post FULL words. Now, thumbs me down, but it’s the truth. At least be respectful and post the whole word. Sometimes it’s like a cryptic message. I had an easier time figuring out the Fibonnaci Sequence then I do some of these sentences.
The only reason I’m not saying, It’s great that people are reading today, even if it is a book like Twilight. is because of it’s message and that’s the sole reason I hated the book to begin with. It’s message. It’s not a good thing if you’re allowing everyone to think that if you serve your boyfriend and give him everything you’re going to be happy and he’s going to stick around. It’s not a good message to young, influential people when you’re telling them that it’s good to only have your boyfriend in your life and to give up everything else is also an awesome thing. Bella makes Edward out to be so much more then he actually is and she’s complaining about how people are weird and she doesn’t fit in. It’s the same crap Vivian in Blood and Chocolate pulled. If you’re self-centered and you don’t even care to remember people’s names, then of course they’re going to hate you.
If the main character was smart, then she’d figure out it only made sense. Am I bashing the books? Debatable. Am I bashing the author? Absolutely not. Just because I despise the books, it doesn’t mean that Meyer can’t pull something amazing out of her sleeve. I’m waiting to see if Breaking Dawn will redeem everyone and everything–so far so NOT good, in my opinion. And if it doesn’t my opinion won’t change.
It’s tiring as well, when people ask the same questions. I’ve seen the same Breaking Dawn questions a bunch of times just reworded and from different people. Most asking what the cover means and where can the first chapter be found.
*sighs* It’s sad. But it’s not going away soon, unfortunately.
No offense, but I find this question rather typecasting. I mean, I love Twilight, but I also love JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Gaston Leroux, and Victor Hugo. They’re all wonderful writers.
I KNOW! It’s just the era, people and things change. To many teens, they think reading educational books makes you a nerd but I think the opposite. They(teens) do read crappy books sometimes but I admit, I read them sometimes too. I mean I love reading about helpful stuff but to get your mind switching is something really fun. It gets you experiencing magical and wonderful new thoughts. I read books that help me learn and books that are useless. For example, I read Mary-Kate and Ashley Adventures and even though I can finish them in under 5 minutes, I still like it. There’s alot of humor and I like suspense and a sprinkle of mystery! But to be honest, I just think they are too vain to read good books like you mentioned! To me, all books are books and they serve a purpose one way or another. It’s reading and there has to be something(like a message or lesson) in it and that is exactly the reason why I read all sorts of books, to get a fresh start on different things! (I also agree that people don’t take education(for example: grammar, math) seriously and it makes me wonder and try to fit in and that’s just how life goes).
I love Meg Cabot (Heather Wells Queen of Babble) and Sophie Kinsella’s (Shopaholic [soon to be movie] Remember Me) books. I am in the process of reading Emily Giffin’s (Something Borrowed Something Blue) books. They are all great authors!
For I teen I recommend Meg Cabot’s young adult books. She is the best author. Also best selling. She wrote tons of books including the Princess Diaries (Movies based on her books), Mediator (upcoming movie), 1-800-Missing (TV show based on her books), Jinx, and more. She has adult books too, so you can grow with her.
If you want more info or meg cabot’s website email me.
Just as there are many different kinds of books and levels of quality, there are many different kinds of readers.
So, it can’t be that one size fits all.
I admit that I am a great snob when it comes to book – I only read literature and the classics, but I don’t impose my reading tastes or values on others.
It’s also a question of priorities – what does a person enjoy doing with his free time. Perhaps one person will grab a book and another person will go for a walk and both will feel they are making good use of their time.
It’s really quite a complicated issue if you really get into it. But I am inclined to feel that a person who reads (even books that I wouldn’t touch) is better off than a person who won’t read anything. Reading is an important skill and it’s important to keep a person’s ability to think and understand on the rise -I mean to keep improving and living up to your potential to deal with the complexities of this world and life.